Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-11
A NEW SERIAL.

NEW SERiHl.
We will. in a short time, begin the
publication of new story of thrilling
interest, entitled, ''KING SOLOMON
MINES by ]. Rider Haggard, writer
who has lately achieved reputation
second to no novelist OF modern days,
and whose success in the field Of litera-
ture is remarkable.
The scene of this tale is laid in that
mystic land of which so little is known
-Kukuapaland, region to the north of
Cape Town, in Africa. Sir Henry Cur
It's. an Englishman, has arrived at Caps
Town in search of a brother with whom
he had quarreled a few years previous TO
the time of this story and who had left
his home in fit of pique. bound for Cape
Town. Sir Henry was accompanied by
Captain Good, a retired naval officer,
quaint character. At Cape Town they
accidentally meet one Allan Quarter
main, an elephant hunter, and in the
course of conversation learn that he had,
two years previously. met Sir Henry's
brother up country, on the point of
starting for a region hitherto unexplored
by white men in search of Solomon's
MineJ Sir Henry at once insisted that
Quartermain, whose knowledge of the
country was invaluable, must accompa-
ny them This he consented TO do, first
explaining the hazardous nature of the
attempt, and revealing what he knew Of
the legend of King Solomon's Mines.
The story, as related by Mr. Quarter
main, was to the effect that, many years
previous, he had met. near the desert,
Portugee, named Jose Sylvestra. who,
with servant, started to cross the
desert beyond which were to be found
the mines. In week he returned a
pitiful wreck, dying OF thirst, but, before
dying, he entrusted to Quartermain, a
document, written by an ancestor named
Jose da Sylyestra, three hundred years
ago. This document contained the Sc
crct Of Solomon's Mines and was accom-
panied by map explaining how to reach
them
The legend further ran to the effect
that far in the interior of Africa in a
hitherto uneXplorcd country. there was
ruined city believed to be the Ophir of
the Bible. and that near by were the
famous mines where .king Solomon, of
old, obtained his wonderful diamonds
and precious stones.
Mr. Quartcrmain related his meeting
with Sir Hcnrys brother who at that
time informed him he wOu!! make the
attempt to reach the mines.
Sir Henry Curtis now resolved that he
would start for the mines without delay,
and Captain Good and Quartcrman de
cidcd to accompany him. Among the ser
wants engaged for the pcrilous trip was
Zulu named Umbopa, who proved to
be of incalcuable value After jour
ncy OF unparalleled hardship and suffer
ing and the loss Of several lives, they
succeeded in crossing the desert and
found themselves in Kuliuaualand among
n warlike people of great courage, whose
armies were in state of perfect disci.
plinc governed by a King named Twala.
whose cruelty To his subjects had al
ienatcd their affections and were ripe foi
revolt
One Of the customs Of this curious
which eyert n score of witch hunters.
women, led by a licnd uamcd Gagool,
passed up and down the ranks of the
soldiers smelling out those whom they
declared had bad hearts and whose
deoapitatiou speedily followed The
sacrifice of the faircst girl among them.
ut "the dance Of maidcns," was an an
nual event. and the girl Foulata, selected
on this occasion. appealed to Sir Henry.
who supported by Captain Good
and Quartermain. protected her TIM
bopa the Zulu servant. it appears. was
the rightful King of the Kukuanas. his
father having been murdered by Twula.
and his mother expelled from the coun-
Try many years previous Through
the conniyance of some disafTected
chiefs, and assisted by Sir Henry, Good
and Quartermain, who were looked upon
MS gods from the stars, Umbopa, after
battlc in which thousands were killed.
defeated rwala, who was killed by Sir
Henry, and assumed the rcins of power.
With Umbopa's assistance. and not
withstanding the trcachcry of the ficnd
Gngool who alone knew the secret en-
trance to the mines. they succeeded in
finding the chambers in which the chests
Of diamonds were stored.
The return to Cape Town, and the
finding of Sir Henry brother followed.
The story is wcll-writtcn. the scenes
graphically dclineated, and the interest
Of the reader cnchained from the first
chapter to the last